ESSEX COUNTY, NJ - Essex County's Turtle Back Zoo is offering nine Summer Camp sessions available to children from age 5 to age 14. The first session begins the week of Monday, June 22 and the last session begins Monday, August 17. The youngest campers can choose a half-day program while all others will attend the camp for a full day from 9am to 4pm. The Zoo intends to help keep student's brains stimulated through learning and fun over summer break. The Zoo recommends that, because classes repeat each session, Campers select only one session to attend. Each camper will bring their own lunch and water bottle, but healthy snacks and Zoo Camp T-shirts will be provided. The Zoo is located at 560 Northfield Avenue, in West Orange.

Entering Kindergarten; Age 5-6Zoo Tales: Celebrate the Seasons5 days, 3-hour sessions ~ $250 + $14.74 registration fee = $264.74Register online hereIn this half-day program, campers will read a series of animal stories to learn about the changes that occur with the seasons and how different animals survive the changes in weather. Campers will use the "Celebrate the Seasons" series by Linda Glaser to begin their learning journey each day; what they read in the stories will inspire their projects, games, crafts, and especially what places they will explore in the Zoo, at the reservoir and which animals they will visit the classroom.Weeks Available:

Session 2: June 29 - July 31pm to 4pm2 slots open

Session 3: July 6 - July 109am to 12pm 5 slots open

Session 6: July 27 - July 31 1pm to 4pm 2 slots open

Session 8: Aug. 10 - Aug. 141pm to 4pm2 slots open

Age 6-7Say What? Animal Communication5 days, 7-hour sessions ~ $425 + $22.70 registration fee = $447.70Registeronline hereCampers will join the Zoo staff for a week-long investigation into all the ways that animals can communicate with each other from sound, to sight, to smell. Each day, they will enjoy projects, games, and stories along with animal visits in the classroom, and explorations of the Zoo and reservoir to understand how animals communicate. Weeks Available: All slots taken

Age 8-9Growing up Wild: Animal Development5 days, 7-hour sessions ~ $425 + $22.70 registration fee = $447.70Registeronline hereSome animals look just like miniature versions of their parents while others look completely different. Campers will join the Zoo staff to investigate the life stages that different animals go through and learn why they look the same as or different than their parents. They will use projects, games, experiments, and explorations of the Zoo, reservoir, and surrounding habitats to understand how animals grow and change.Weeks Available:

Session 5: July 20 - July 249am to 4pm1 slot available

Session 6: July 27 - July 319am to 4pmwaitlist only

Age 10-11Backyard Conservation5 days, 7-hour sessions ~ $425 + $22.70 registration fee = $447.70Registeronline hereIt’s not only rainforests and coral reefs that require conservation efforts. Campers will join the Zoo staff to become junior conservationists learning about some conservation issues occurring right here in NJ. They will spend the week investigating why some of our local species are being adversely affected, and what they can do to help. Projects, research, experiments and explorations of the Zoo, reservoir and surrounding habitats will help them understand these conservation concerns.Weeks Available:

Session 6: July 27 - July 319am to 4pm1 slot open

Session 8: Aug. 10 - Aug. 149am to 4pm1 slot open

Age 12-14Zoo Crew: Training and Enrichment5 days, 7-hour sessions ~ $425 + $22.70 registration fee = $447.70Registeronline hereIt takes a lot of work to care for Zoo animals and that includes more than just cleaning and feeding. To ensure that the animals are happy and healthy, the Zoo also provide them with various forms of training and enrichment. Campers will join the Zoo staff to learn how they keep the animals' bodies and minds healthy; they will learn how and why they are trained, and try training some themselves, while also building enrichment items for the animals to enjoy. Weeks Available:

Turtle Back Zoo is committed to providing an enriching recreational experience that fosters excellence in wildlife education and wildlife conservation. Formed in 1962 on a 15.5 acre section of the county’s South Mountain Reservation, the Zoo was designed by Tjark Reiss who created the exhibits based on Hans Christian Anderson’s nursery rhyme themes. The zoo opened on June 3, 1963 with a collection of 140 animals of 40 species and by ten years later the zoo’s animal collection had grown to 850 animals of 275 species. Since taking office in 2003, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo has spearheaded over $70 million in upgrades to the zoo. In September 2006, Turtle Back Zoo was granted accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. This distinct honor places Turtle Back Zoo among the elite zoos and aquaria of the United States and means that the zoo adheres to the highest standards for zoos in the country.

WEST ORANGE, NJ - The Essex CountyHoliday Lights Spectacular continues for an eighth year at Turtle Back Zoo as 50 figures are illuminated by 100,000 lights throughout the complex. The free event runs daily, from 5pm to 9pm, beginning Friday, Dec. 12 until Sunday, Jan. 4. Visitors are encouraged to bring donations for local food pantries and assistance groups.

New to the Holiday Lights Spectacular this year are themed weekends.Friday through Sunday winter films, music and crafts will be offered. Additionally, several animal exhibits will be open nightly, photographs with Santa will be available until Dec. 23 and refreshments will be available for purchase. Turtle Back Zoo is located at 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange.

Over 100,000 lights will illuminate figures of about 50 animal and holiday-themed figures throughout the Zoo and surrounding complex including bears, tigers, elephants and holiday lights designed to look like wooden soldiers, stars and winter scenes. Additionally, several animal exhibits will be open, including:

“We invite the public to make this Essex County holiday tradition your family tradition," Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo commented. "Turtle Back Zoo will be turned into a Winter Wonderland, with extraordinary seasonal lighting exhibits and costumed characters. Stroll the landscaped paths of our Zoo and admire the illuminated images of everything from toy soldiers to penguins."

The Zoo's mascot, Myrtle the Turtle, will be on hand to greet visitors along with several of his winter friends. Photographs with Santa Claus will be available each night until Dec. 23.

Slideshow Photo Credits: Janna Smith

Themed WeekendsNew to the Holiday Lights Spectacular this year are themed weekends. Popular films, holiday music, crafts and animal presentations will be offered each Friday through Sunday along with ice carving demonstrations on Saturdays. Movies will be shown continuously in the Sea Lion Sound Exhibit beginning at 5pm until closing.

The schedule for the weekend activities is as follows:Friday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 14

Merry ‘Grinch’mas

"Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

"Mickey’s Christmas Carol"

Friday, Dec. 19 to Sunday, Dec. 21

Welcome Winter: A ‘Frozen’ Celebration

"Frozen"

Princesses Elsa and Anna will be in attendance and available for photos

“Our themed weekends will make your visit to the Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular more thrilling and exciting. Come out and enjoy the lights, movies, demonstrations and other winter wonderland activities,” expressed DiVincenzo.

Slideshow Photos Credit: Kristine Schultz Blake

Donations RequestedVisitors to the Holiday Lights Spectacular are encouraged to bring donations for the needy which will be collected at the front entrance of the Zoo. Specifically, non-perishable foods and pet foods, new unwrapped toys, and new and gently used winter coats are being requested. Last year, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, about 5.5 tons of non-perishable food, 5,984 toys and 1,778 winter coats were collected for the less fortunate.

The following foods, hygiene necessities and household supplies are currently in demand at local assistance groups: Food Items

Jars and Cans:

Chicken

Fruits

Meat

Pasta meals

Peanut butter

Soups

Stews

Tomato Sauce

Tuna and other fish

Vegetables

Boxes and Bags

Beans-all kinds

Cereals

Dry soup mix

Macaroni and cheese

Pasta

Rice

Toiletries

Combs, Hair Brushes

Deodorant

Diapers - Baby and Adult

Feminine Pads / Tampons

Mouthwash

Q-tips

Paper Towels

Shampoo

Tissues

Toilet paper

Toothpaste

Toothbrushes

“We are offering free admission to make this exciting attraction available to everyone” DiVincenzo noted. "We also are encouraging our visitors to bring non-perishable food items, non-perishable pet food, new unwrapped toysand new and gently used winter coats to help our families in need."

The Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular is sponsored by PSE&G, Covanta Energy, the Zoological Society of New Jersey and the Essex County Parks Foundation.

Turtle Back Zoo is committed to providing an enriching recreational experience that fosters excellence in wildlife education and wildlife conservation. Formed in 1962 on a 15.5 acre section of the county’s South Mountain Reservation, the Zoo was designed by Tjark Reiss who created the exhibits based on Hans Christian Anderson’s nursery rhyme themes. The zoo opened on June 3, 1963 with a collection of 140 animals of 40 species and by ten years later the zoo’s animal collection had grown to 850 animals of 275 species. Since taking office in 2003, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo has spearheaded over $70 million in upgrades to the zoo. In September 2006, Turtle Back Zoo was granted accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. This distinct honor places Turtle Back Zoo among the elite zoos and aquaria of the United States and means that the zoo adheres to the highest standards for zoos in the country.